Comparison

Absolute Tides vs First Mate

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

Absolute Tides

Access official UKHO tidal data offline for up to a year in advance. View monthly tide tables, daily charts, and tidal streams. Includes weather forecasts and anchoring assistance.

Highlights
  • Offline UKHO tidal data
  • Annual data plugins
  • Monthly tide tables
  • Daily tide charts
  • Tidal stream view
  • Met Office weather forecast
  • Anchoring assistance
Features
Read full description

Displays officially licenced UKHO tidal data on an annual basis without ever needing to go online. The tidal data is contained in our annual data plugins and must be purchased using in-app purchases. Once you have purchased the data, this app will allow you to view UKHO standard port tides up to a year in advance. The app will also calculate secondary port tides using its own built in offsets. (The 'UK data 2016' IAP contains data for 38 primary ports and over 500 secondary ports, see our website for more details on coverage) The main view is an 'At a glance' table view of each month's tides and tidal ranges. Selecting an entry will display an easy to use daily chart view showing the tide height for any time of day and a tidal stream view showing tidal direction and speed at hourly intervals. The Weather section downloads and displays the current Met Office Inshore Forecast. Absolute Tides also makes anchoring easy by calculating the maximum and minimum tides beween the current time and any selected future date/time. Note: This application will NOT work without at least one of our tidal data in-app purchases being installed. Please check that the tide data you want is available before downloading this app. The small print: For leisure use only. Heights of tides can vary from those predicted depending on the prevailing weather conditions. All data is given in good faith and is believed to be correct but we accept no responsibility for any consequential loss or damage arising from use of this application. Secondary port data calculated using offsets will be less accurate than the UKHO standard port data. This app is neither affiliated to nor endorsed by the Met Office.

About

First Mate

Features
Read full description

First Mate is the app every boat owner needs for a reliable and enjoyable boating excursion. First Mate is the first app using advanced Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering calculations and tow tank test data to provide you with vessel duration, range, and engine output without the need for expensive integrated management systems. This app compliments your navigation equipment and gauges to calculate the information needed to plan or update the journey in real time. Input the fuel and vessel speed; First Mate will calculate:  • Hours to empty • Distance to empty • Estimated engine RPM, fuel burn rate, brake horsepower All calculations update when user updates the app. Typically trip planning is done using rough estimates using data from the vessel manufacturer. Integrated management systems can cost hundreds or thousands of dollars, require installation, and only provide basic information about engine performance and maintenance. First Mate is a robust app that accounts for drag, weight, and engine performance to accurately plan excursions and spontaneously change plans while underway. The user interface is designed to allow anyone, regardless of boating knowledge, to easily set up and use the app. Because this app covers all planing monohulls, information about the vessel must be input under the “Vessel” tab. Information about the vessel is available at the manufacturer’s website. It is very simple to use for beginner or advance users. Once the Vessel tab is filled out, print it as a backup and keep a copy in the vessel log book. The “Dashboard” tab provides the user with all the information to estimate range based on the speed, weight, and current fuel readings. Other important information is displayed on this tab includes: engine RPM, fuel burn rate, and brake horsepower (BHP). The environmental input is used to calculate the seastate and the effect it will have on the range. Departure fluid levels and weights are used to estimate the total vessels displacement. There are several reference tables on the “Tables” tab to help estimate the remaining fluid levels based on gauge readings and seastate based on Beaufort Wind Scale. The app can be updated when the engine or propeller is upgraded without the need to buy anything. If you want to know how an engine or propeller upgrade will change the performance of the vessel, the app can do the calculations for you. If you are in the market for a boat, want to build a custom boat, or modify an existing hull, use the app to estimate displacement, range, required fuel capacity, and horsepower. App Features: • User inputs the vessel and engine specifications. • During trip or for trip planning, user only inputs wind speed, fuel, and vessel speed. Update these values throughout the trip to update range and engine calculations. • User can customize or update output after making changes to vessel or propulsion system. • User can update app with new vessel specifications after buying a new boat. Only purchase the app once. • Calculations are only updated with new input from user (saves battery life). • User input is saved on device but make a printout for backup and keep in vessel log. • Take screen shots to share. • Does not have maps or speedometer. Other devices or gauges can provide this information without draining your device’s battery. Find the tutorial and more information here: https://poseidonvesselmanagement.com/first-mate Why is this app not free?? • NO in app purchases, NO subscriptions, NO ads, NO data collection, NO locked features. • Rely on word-of-mouth advertising. • Provide a high-quality product to the customer at the lowest price. Poseidon Vessel Management does NOT collect any of your information, but feel free to tell your friends about our app!

Screenshots

Absolute Tides4 screens
First Mate4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: Absolute Tides at Free against First Mate's $19.99. First Mate's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 11) and update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 5 months). On ads, device support and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Absolute Tides is free to download; First Mate costs $19.99 up front. Absolute Tides sells 11 one-off in-app purchases. First Mate asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Absolute Tides ships an update every 5 months, First Mate every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on August 18, 2026 and September 9, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard3 real differences · 5 level
Absolute Tides versus First Mate: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterAbsolute TidesFirst Mate
PriceFree — better$19.99
Positive reviews67.1% of reviews—
Update frequencyEvery 5 monthsEvery 3 weeks — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchases—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple Watch — betteriPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS15.614.5 — better
Further details — not scored
Size30 MB3 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperDarren EdwardsMatthew Ricciardo

In-app purchases

11 purchases

Absolute Tides

One-time11
  • UK Tides 2016Free
  • UK Tides 2017Free
  • UK Tides 2018Free
Show 8 more
  • UK Tides 2019Free
  • UK & Eire Tides 2020Free
  • UK & Eire Tides 2021Free
  • UK & Eire Tides 2022$2.99
  • UK & Eire Tides 2023$2.99
  • UK & Eire Tides 2024$2.99
  • UK & Eire Tides 2026$2.99
  • UK & Eire Tides 2025$2.99
None

First Mate

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Absolute Tides free?
Absolute Tides is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is First Mate free?
First Mate costs $19.99, with no in-app purchases.
Do Absolute Tides or First Mate have ads?
Neither Absolute Tides nor First Mate shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Absolute Tides or First Mate?
Absolute Tides ships an update every 5 months, and First Mate every 3 weeks. Most recently, Absolute Tides was updated on August 18, 2026 and First Mate on September 9, 2026.

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